Top construction



Sept. 21 1926.

J- H. BOURGON TOP consmucnon Filed Dec. 13, 1924 Z0 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNIT ED s TATE-S PATENT: 9mm.

' JOSEPH 'H. $0URG 0N, OF DETRO IT,.M-ICHIGAN, KSSIGNOZR T0 STUDEBAKER 00R- PORIA TION. OF SOUTH BEND, INDIAN-A, AN-D DETROIT, EMICHIGAN, EL CO'RPORA'IION OF JERSEY.

TOP eons'rnocmron.

Application filed De'cember- 13, 1924. Serial No. 755,728.

' invention relates to'tops for motor vehicles and the like and particularly to tops ofth'e permanent type and has for one of its objects to provide atop frame comfpose'd -of sheet metal 'of such a construction that the 'top of which it forms a part will not be subject to'the drumming usually associated with tops previously used. v

' Another object is to provide a permanent 'top frame shaped from a continuous sheet of metal to which the various other top frame members may be applied to "form a permanent unitary structure.

Another object is to provide a oer nanent top frame formed from a continuous sheet of metal with transverse trough-like depressions spaced at frequenti'ntervals which tend substantially across the same "along the upper portion thereof.

A further object is to provide a'permanent top frame formed from acon't-inuous piece of sheet metal and having 'a'plurality of troughlikedepressions formed therein extending substantially across the same, with a plurality of wooden cross ribs which are secured to the bottom ofthe trough-like depressions :to strengthen thesame and'to proidea tacking strip for securing the top lining thereto.

A sti 1 further object is "to provide a permanent 'top shaped from a continuous she-s t of metal having the bottom edges of the metal bent inwardly at the sides and rear portion substantially perpendicularly to the "same forminga horizontally disposed flange,

the frame also having a continuous wooden tacking "member secured to the flange extending around theside's and rear 'portion thereof for securing the top covering thereto.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists of certainfeatures of construction and combination of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view. a

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like views,

Figure 1 18 a perspective view of the fi nparts throughout the several "ished top as it appear-reassembled "on an au 7 H tomobile body. I

Figure 2 is a perspective view ef the top frame as it appears before the top iming, covering andother finishing partsh'a ve been assembled thereto.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion ofthe top frame showing the depi-essi'ons formed therein, the Wooden cross rib secured to-the under surface of the bottom of the depression and the top dining tacked to the cross rib. I

Figure A; is a transverse section taken "through the top frame -'at a point adfia'e'ent one of the cross ribs.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken through the central portion of t he top and showing'the top lining se'cured to thew-inside of the top frame. 1

In tops heretofore used,'vvherein the cen tral portion was bridged by sheet metal or where the top frame was formed from :a

continuous piece .of sheet metal, drumming The present invention overcomes this '(ihjec- 'tion and also provides a structure which is strong and -servieeab'le,'yet=of relatively light weight, and economical to manufacture;

The top frame 11 is formed *froma icon- -tinuous piece of sheet metal to Ithe desired shape, that is to the shape of the msua'l :top constructions as shown in F igures 11' Bn'diQ, but preferably 'such that no i'fi'a't spots :are present at any place on its surface to assist in eliminating any drumming sound that may develop, as it is well known that a curved surface will not vibrate as much as a fiat surface.

A wooden front cross member 12, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, is secured to the front end of the top and provides a means for more easily securing the front top supports 13, rainshield 14 and windshield 15 thereto, but if it is desired this cross memb r may be eliminated and the front edge of the metal may be formed to provide an attaching 111821118.

At frequent intervals depressions 16 provided in the central portion of the top frame 11 extending substantially across same. These depressions are prefer formed to provide ribs, which strengths top in a plane perpendicular to its so to eliminate the,crumming above referred to. To further insure against drummin wooden strips or ribs 17 are lied to the unoer surface of the bottoms of the depressions 16 which a o constitute a conven V, means for securin he top lining 18 thereto. Another disagreeable feature previously encountered in tops of this general character is the crackling or snapping sound which is caused by the weaving of the top when e,-.of which t f a part, is passing over rough or uneven roads, which is caused by a change or reversal o1 stresses set up in the different portions of top When the same is Weaving, which stresses may tend to bucklethe metal in one direction portion and to pull it apart in ano her direction or portion, there havingbeen no provision to absorb these stresses. The depressions 16 mentioned inv the preceding p sorb and bre l u 3 three sl and accomplish this result by the automol son of their vertical Walls which giveslightly to stresses acting in the longitudinal plane of the top, and which Walls, although givin flexibility to the top inthe plane of its sue c, act at the same time to give the top greater strength perpendicular to its plane The bottom edge of themeta-l at the sides and rear portion is bent inwardly substanti-all perpendicular to the same to fo'm a continuous horizontal f ange 19 extending around the sides and back thereof to which a Wooden member 20 may be suitably secured Which may be utilized in several Ways such as a tacking stripfor the outer covering or the-like.

Although in the foregoing description and in the following claims the frame is referred to as being formed from a continuous piece of sheet metal, it is to be undersood that the present invention is not limitedto a construction formed from a single sheet of metal as it applies equally as well to and ineludes those constructions made up of a plurality of metal units Welded, riveted or otherwise suitably secured together to form a continuous sheet of metal.

It is also to be understood that, although the drawing shows the frame 11 as being applied to an open type of automobile body, it may equally Well be applied to bodies of the closed type with equal advantages.

Formal changes may be made inthe specitic embodiment of the invention Without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of Which is com 7 mensurate with the appended claims.

What- I claim is: 1. In combination ivlth an automobile top comprising a frame formed from a cont1nuone sheet of metal into a shape having vertiie to said cover sides, said depres sions having converging side and end Walls,

and a'horizontal bottom Wall, and tacking strips secured to said horizontal Walls of said depressions, said strips forming reinforcing means for said top frame. 7

3. In combination with an automobile top frame having cover sides and back, and a substantially horizontaltop portion formed 7 from a continuous sheet of metal, transverse depressions formed in the horizontal portion of said top, said depressions having converging side and end Walls, and a horizontal bottom wall, tacking strips secured to said horizontal walls of said depressions, said str'ps forming reinforcing means for said op frame, and a flexible top lining secured 0 said tacking strips to conceal the bottom of said frame, depressions and tacking strips.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. An, this 5th day of December, 1924. V

JOSEPH H. BOURGON.

of said top, terminating intermediate and I Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,600,533, granted September 21, 1926, upon the application of Joseph H. Bourgon, of Detroit, Michigan, for an improvement in Top Construction, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 89 and 94-, claim 2, and line 101, claim 3, for the Word cover read awed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of October, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

